Great Somerford

Great Somerford
Great Somerford
 Great Somerford shown within Wiltshire
Population 737 (in 2011)[1]
OS grid referenceST964827
Unitary authorityWiltshire
Ceremonial countyWiltshire
RegionSouth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town CHIPPENHAM
Postcode district SN15 5
Dialling code 01249
Police Wiltshire
Fire Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK ParliamentNorth Wiltshire
Websitegreatsomerford.info/parish-council/
List of places
UK
England
Wiltshire

Coordinates: 51°32′35″N 2°03′14″W / 51.543°N 2.054°W / 51.543; -2.054

Great Somerford is a village and parish within Dauntsey Vale, Wiltshire, England,[2] situated next to the river Avon. It lies approximately 85 miles (137 km) west of London and 12 miles (19 km) west of Swindon. The hamlet of Startley and the location of Seagry Heath are included within the bounds of the parish.[3][4]

Amenities

The Anglican church is Grade I listed.[5][6]

Great Somerford Free Gardens is considered to be the earliest instance of an allotment.[7]

Since 2007 the Volunteer Inn has been owned by local brewer, Arkell's. It has a large events room to the rear of the pub and is host to several village skittles teams. [8][9][10]

The village was once served by a railway station on the Malmesbury to Dauntsey branch of the Great Western Main Line. The station, then known simply as "Somerford", was opened with the line in 1877, and a goods facility added in January 1879. In January 1903 a station on the Wootton Bassett to Badminton line was opened at nearby Little Somerford, and the station at Great Somerford renamed "Great Somerford" for clarity; the Little Somerford route was much more popular, and rail traffic through Great Somerford declined steeply. The station there was downgraded to "Great Somerford Halt" in May 1922; by the time it closed altogether (along with the rest of the Malmesbury branch) in 1933 it was averaging one passenger per two trains.[11][12]

Clubs and societies

River Avon

The Bristol Avon flows through the parish and is joined by the Brinkworth Brook.

Great Somerford Measuring Station

In 1963 the Environment Agency constructed a river level measuring station consisting of one of the earliest compound crump weirs in Britain. [13] The typical river level range is between 16 and 75 centimetres. The highest level recorded was 2.43 metres. During the widespread flooding in 2007, the river level reached 2.06 metres on 21 July, whilst flooding in July 1968 drowned the entire structure. [13][14]

World War II pillboxes

There are three remaining World War 2 pillboxes in the village.

The first pillbox is facing the river and a disused railway.

The second pillbox is on the edge of a medium-sized field next to the Avon. There has been no damage to this pillbox, though in torrential rain it tends to flood.

The third pillbox is situated along the left of Dauntsey Road opposite a small cottage.

Political representatives

Great Somerford falls within the North Wiltshire constituency for elections to the House of Commons; the member of parliament is James Gray.

References

  1. ↑ "Wiltshire Community History – Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  2. ↑ OS Explorer Map 156, Chippenham and Bradford-on-Avon Scale: 1:25 000.Publisher: Ordnance Survey A2 edition (2007). ISBN 978-0319239438
  3. ↑ "Wiltshire Community History: Great Somerford". Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Wiltshire Community History: Map of Great Somerford". Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "List entry – Church of St Peter and Paul, Great Somerford". English Heritage. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Wiltshire Community History – Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Great Somerford". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Savill, Richard (10 March 2009). "England's oldest allotments celebrate 200 years". The Daily Telegraph.
  8. ↑ "Arkells Volunteers for Service" (Press release). Arkell's Brewery.
  9. ↑ "Landlord's family 'Volunteer' to eat up" (Press release). Arkell's Brewery.
  10. ↑ Salisbury Journal – It's No. 107 for Arkell's Brewery, 28 November 2007
  11. ↑ Bavister, Roy; Bryan O'Donnell (31 October 2005). "Some notes on Great Somerford boundaries and Conservation Areas" (PDF). North Wiltshire District Council. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Rail". Athelstan Museum, Malmesbury. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  13. 1 2 Environment Agency – Great Somerford Measuring Station Specification
  14. ↑ Environment Agency – [www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/120718.aspx?stationId=3027 River levels at Great Somerford Measuring Station]
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